Gus Powell

Scheduled to teach:

Gus Powell (http://www.guspowell.com/) was born in New York City in 1974 and attended Oberlin College where he majored in comparative religion. In 2003 he was selected to be in PDNs 30 under 30 issue and also published his first monograph, titled The Company of Strangers (J&L Books). His work has been exhibited internationally including a solo show at The Museum of The City of New York; and group exhibitions at The Art Institute of Chicago, Museum of Fine Arts Houston and FOAM, NL. His photographs have been published in Aperture, Harpers, Vogue, Wired, Fortune, W, and he has been a regular contributor to The New Yorker magazine. He is a member of the collective of street photographers In-Public and faculty at the MFA Photography, Video and Related Media Department at the School of Visual Arts, NY. He is included in the books Bystander: A World History of Street Photography and Street Photography Now. Powell’s second monograph, titled The Lonely Ones (J&L Books) was celebrated as one of the best books of the year. Powell is currently at work on one project tilted Family Car Trouble and his ongoing street work series titled Miss en Scene.

Gus Powell Portfolio

Julia Dean Interviews Gus Powell

LACP Founder and Executive Director Julia Dean asks Gus Powell ten questions about his background, career in and beliefs about photography

Julia Dean: What kind of photographer are you?

Gus Powell: Tall and optimistic.

JD: How long have you been shooting?

GP: Since I was about 6 . . . it started with an SX70 Polaroid in the 1980s.

JD: Where did you get your training?

GP: First from my mother who taught me how to point at interesting things . . . then from my father who handed me cameras . . . then in dark rooms in high school taking classes at ICP and SVA in New York . . . then from the walls of the Museum of Modern Art and bookstores like A Photographers Place (RIP) . . . and then from mentors like Peter Cunningham & Joel Meyerowitz . . . then from working with pictures as a photo editor . . . and then from peers and students who inspire me constantly . . .

JD: When did you know you wanted to devote your life to photography?

GP: N/A

JD: Did you ever come close to giving up?

GP: N/A

JD: Have you sacrificed anything by being a photographer?

GP: N/A

JD: What have you gained by being a photographer?

GP: An appreciate for the smallest of gestures . . . the smallest shards of light . . . an ambiguous relationship with reality . . . a set of friends who see well and think deep . . .

JD: What classes do you teach at LACP?

GP:: One Week of Street Photography.

JD: What do you love most about teaching?

GP: N/A

JD: What advice would you give someone who is thinking about making a career in photography?